Hel is the Norse Goddess of the underworld, the name of which is also "Hel" or "Helheim".

as for as hell being a place of eternal torment. pfffft! that just spiritual terrorism designed to keep the masses too fearful to step outside the prescribed religious dogma so to keep the clergy coffers filled w/ tithes and "love donations". a carrot/stick method of keeping the poor overloaded donkey plodding along. heaven = carrot. hell = stick.

if you never heard of such a place, never had the concept presented to you as a possibility, if it wasn't so prevalent in religion and in the media, you, in your innate Love and innocence, wouldn't even begin to consider that such a place could exist.